IPMI: Intelligent Platform Management Interface
IPMI is a standardized hardware management interface that lets administrators monitor and control a server through its BMC, independently of the CPU and OS. It handles sensor readings, power control, and remote console over LAN, but is now considered legacy in favor of Redfish.
IPMI defines a message-based protocol for talking to the BMC. Version 2.0, released in 2004, added encryption and IPMI-over-LAN, which is how tools like ipmitool power-cycle a server or pull sensor data across the network. It runs on UDP port 623 and works across vendors, so one script can manage mixed Dell, HPE, and Supermicro fleets.
IPMI has known security weaknesses. The RAKP authentication flow can leak password hashes, and cipher suite 0 allows unauthenticated access if left enabled. For this reason many vendors disable IPMI-over-LAN by default and steer customers to Redfish, which uses HTTPS and modern authentication.
For imported servers, IPMI is still useful because it is universal and scriptable across brands. If you enable it, restrict it to a management VLAN, disable cipher suite 0, and set a strong BMC password. Never expose port 623 to the public internet.
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More in Remote management
- iDRAC: Integrated Dell Remote Access ControlleriDRAC is Dell's dedicated out-of-band management controller built into PowerEdge servers. It runs on its own processor and network port, letting admins power-cycle, reinstall, and monitor a server remotely even when the OS is down or the machine is powered off.
- HPE iLO: Integrated Lights-OutiLO is HPE's embedded out-of-band management controller for ProLiant servers. It runs on a separate processor and network port, giving remote power control, virtual console, virtual media, and hardware health monitoring even when the host OS is offline.
- BMC: Baseboard Management ControllerA BMC is a small dedicated processor on a server motherboard that manages the hardware independently of the main CPU and OS. It monitors sensors, controls power, and provides remote access. iDRAC, iLO, and Huawei iBMC are vendor implementations of a BMC.
- Redfish: DMTF management APIRedfish is a modern RESTful API standard from the DMTF for managing servers and datacenter hardware. It uses HTTPS and JSON to expose inventory, sensors, power control, and firmware updates, and is the intended replacement for the older IPMI protocol.
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